UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING DEBUTS ARTIST-CENTRIC WEB SITE

In an attempt to make it easier for all those ad execs, film producers and TV-show theme hunters to explore and exploit its massive catalog and stable of artists, Universal Music Publishing Group has debuted a new web site featuring artist biographies, audio and video clips, links to artist sites and licensing information.

In addition to comprehensive artist/writer and catalog information the site (http://www.universalmusicpublishing.com) features a unique "Catalog History Timeline," a visual montage with accompanying audio clips and links to biographical and song information highlighting the most famous artists whose works are housed at UMPG. From Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith to Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie, Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald; from The Beach Boys, The Mamas & The Papas and Elton John to Steely Dan, Parliament-Funkadelic, Bon Jovi, U2 and Shania Twain, the mind-boggling breadth of the UMPG catalog is presented in a genuinely fun, interactive way.

"We are excited to offer this promotional site as a creative and informative resource tool for our clients, partners, and for music professionals who license music," said UMPG Worldwide President David Renzer. "It is part of UMPG’s ongoing commitment to aggressively market our writerfs and catalog in new and innovative ways."

And speaking of licensing, UMPG has come to a new agreement with sister company Vivendi Universal Net USA (VUNet USA) allowing VUNet’s truSONIC division to use select UMPG content. truSONIC uses the Internet to deliver music and audio advertising to retail environments including restaurants, supermarkets, offices and big-box stores. The unit was formerly a part of Vivendi Universal’s MP3.com.

"We are pleased to be working with VUNet on several synergistic initiatives, the first of which will make some of the world’s best known songs available to the truSONIC business-music service and their clients," commented the oft-commenting Renzer. "In addition, this licensing deal provides UMPG and our songwriters and artists with a new opportunity for income, and gives more listeners access to music they love."